Window-curtain fixture



(No Model.)

I W. H. KING.

WINDOW CURTAIN FIXTURE,

Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

' 2 Sheets Sheeo 1.

II n u u u u u H n u u u 7y ///////////#A(V//////////////// IHJJ H HH IIII H H H'll VII 5) fizz/water NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HASKELL KING, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

WINDOW-CURTAIN FIXTURE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,603, dated March13, 1894. pplicati n fi January 4,1894:- Serial No. 495,707 (No model.)

It is the purpose of my invention to pro- A vide a novel, simple andeconomical windowcurtain fixture which may be readily raised, orlowered, by merely applying a comparatively small force to the lower endof the curtam, without regard to the point'at which the required forceis applied thereto, the construction and arrangement being such that thecurtain must, under all circumstances, wind upon, or unwind from, theroller evenly and uniformly, while its lower end is maintained insubstantial parallelism with said roller at every point of adjustment,even when the force exerted in raising or lowering it is ap plied whollyat either extreme edge, instead of in the center, as has usually beennecessary, heretofore.

It' is a further purpose of my invention to provide a window-curtainfixture which shall be wholly free from binding in the lateral guides inwhich the roll, or rod, at the lower end of the curtain moves, and whichmay be raised and lowered with perfect ease by applying a slight forceat any point between the ends of the lower curtain-rod,or roll,provision being made for a perfect and simple compensation for allirregularities, or inequalities, in the distance between the oppositeguides at different points, and for maintaining said curtain at anypoint to which it may be adjusted without the necessity of using thedogs, or stop-pawls, which ordinarily form part of every spring-actuatedcurtain-roller.

My invention also comprises simple means whereby the length of the lowerroll, or rod, may be adjusted automatically to curtains, of diflferentwidths, whereby the pinions which control and equalize the movement ofthe opposite ends of-said roll, or rod, shall be held at all times inuniform mesh with their racks.

It is my purpose, also, to provide means whereby, a degree of frictionshall be at all times produced sufficient to hold the curtain at anypoint to which it maybe adjusted and enable it to resist theconstantjar, and movement of the car, vessel, or other conveyance inwhich it is used.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction andnew combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and thenparticularly pointed out in the claims which form part of thisspecification.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my said invention pertainsto understand and to make, construct and use thesame, I will describesaid invention in detail, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section upon the line 1'-1,inFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a window, provided with acurtain-fixture constructed in accordance with my invention, thewindow-casing being in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section upon aslightly enlarged scale, the section plane passing through one end ofthe lower roll or rod of the curtain. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinalvertical section of the lower curtain-roll, or rod. Fig. 5 is a detailsection of one of the friction boxes, with which the ends of the lowercurtainroll,or rod, are connected. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of thesame, upon the line 66, Fig. 4..

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates an ordinarywindow-casing, which is provided with lateral, vertical guides 2,applied to said casing in any suitable manner, as, for example, byscrews 3.

At the upper end of the casing 1, supported in bearings suitable for thepurpose, is the curtain-roller 4, which is of any known, or preferredtype, its take-up movement being imparted by a spring 5, in any known,or preferred manner, said roller differing from those in common usemerely in having no dogs, or stop-pawls, whereby the action of thespring is arrested and the curtain held at any point to which it may beadjusted.

In the lower edge of the curtain 6, which IOC hangs from the roller 4,is formed a pocket in which is inserted a tube, or cylinder, 7, having alength substantially equal to or a little greater than, the width of thecurtain. In the ends of this tube are inserted bushings 8, which formbearings for a shaft 9, which passes through the whole length of saidtube and projects at both ends thereof. This shaft is preferably madeextensible in any suitable manner, as, for example, that shown in Fig.4, in which it is divided into two parts, the diminished end 10 of oneof said parts being inserted in a chamber in the other part andextended, or pressed outward, by a coiled spring 12, lying in saidchamber. In the chambered portion of the shaft is formed a centrallongitudinal slot 13, in which lies a key 14: which enters a suitableaperture in the diminished end 10 of the other part of the shaft, saidslot being of such length as to permit the maximum extension, orcontraction, of the shaft that will be required.

Upon the projecting ends of the shaft 9 are mounted pinions 15, whichlie in channels 16 in the vertical guides 2 and mesh with racks 17,arranged in said channels upon one side thereof. The extremities of theshaft, which project beyond the pinions 15, lie in bearings 18, formedin friction-boxes 19, the latter being arranged in channels 20 in thevertical guides 2.

The friction-boxes 19 are each formed in two parts, one consisting ofthe main body, indicated by the numeral 19, in which the ends of theshaft have bearing, and the other part consisting of a smaller portion,or plate 21, which is connected with the part 19 by small bolts 22,which pass through openings 23 in the main body-portion 19 and havetheir ends rigidly connected to the plate 21. Between the heads 2 l ofthese bolts and the plate 21 to which they are attached, are interposedsprings 25, by which a constant and uniform pressure is exerted upon theplate to push it away from the main portion 19 of the friction box. Thetwo parts composing each friction-box lie against the opposite, verticalwalls of the channel 20 in which said f rictionbox moves, and arepressed against said walls by the expansion of the springs 25. By thisconstruction not only are the ends of the shaft 9 maintained at alltimes in the same relation to the racks 17, and the pinions 15 therebyretained in accurate and uniform mesh therewith, but sufficient frictionis exerted upon the walls of the channels in which the friction-boxesmove to enable the latter to act as an efficient brake to the curtainand maintain the latter at any point to which it may be adjusted. Itshould be noted that by these means I dispense with the necessity ofusing dogs, or stop-devices of any kind, upon the curtain-roll. Byproperly adjusting the weight of the tube 7 and shaft 9, so as tosuitably counterbalance the force of the spring 5 in the curtain roller,the frictional resistance of the boxes 19 may be reduced to a minimum. Iprefer to extend the ends of the tube 7 far enough beyond the edges ofthe curtain to enable them to enter the channels in the vertical guides2, as shown in Fig. 3.

My invention is not restricted to the use of a spring-actuatedcurtain-roller, as I may employ any known or preferred means forimparting revolution to said roller.

I-Ieretofore, and prior to my invention, much difficulty has beenexperienced in providing Window-curtain fixtures for public conveyances,such as street-cars, steam railway cars, steamers and other vessels. Asthese fixtures are constantly operated by persons who are either whollyignorant of, or but little acquainted with their use.

In lowering, or in raising the curtain, it is a common practice to applya strong, sudden, downward traction, or an upward lift, to the lower endof the curtain at,'or near, one side thereof, by which it is eitherthrown to one side, or the other, on the curtain-roller, or, if a lowerrod, or roll, is mounted in the end of the curtain, it is almost alwayscaused to bind in the guide-channels in which its ends move, and therough efforts to overcome this tendency frequently increase thedifficulty or re sult in serious damage to, or destruction of, theentire device. Moreover, the means heretofore employed for holding thecurtain at different heights either require an expert manipulation, likethe centrifugal dog, or pawl, commonly used in spring shade-rollers, orif other forms are used. it is not uncommonly the case that they yieldslowly to the jar and movement of the vehicle and fail to hold thecurtain permanently at the point to which it is adjusted. By myinvention all these difficulties are avoided. It is immaterial at whatpoint the drag, or lift, is applied to the lower end of the curtain, orhow sudden and violent the force may be, since neither end of the shaft9 can rise, or fall, without an equal movement, in unison, of the otherside. The pinions on said shaft being held by their bearings in thefriction-boxes 19 in uniform and proper relations to the racks in whichthey mesh, they must travel smoothly therein and with equal play on bothsides, all tendency to bind, or move with difficulty, being removed. Bythe use of the friction-boxes,in which the ends of the shaft havebearing, I am not only able to maintain this proper meshing engagement,but I provide an effectual brake by which the curtain will bepermanently held at any point, and I am able to dispense with thecentrifugal dogs, or other automatic stops, heretofore used inconnection with the curtain-roll. By adapting the weight of the tube andshaft, inserted in the pocket in the lower end of the curtain, to theforce of the spring in the curtain-roller, I am also able to materiallyreduce the frictional resistance of the boxes 19, and thereby enable thecurtain to be raised and lowered by the exertion of a comparativelysmall degree of force. I make provision, also, for an automaticcompensation for any irregularity in the width of the window-casing atdifferent points, which is often liable to take place in cars andvessels in which the frame is subjected to constant strain.

What I claim is 1. In a window-curtain fixture, the combination with anautomatically-actuated curtain-roller, of a shaft lying in supportsattached to the lower end of the curtain, pinions mounted on theprojecting ends of said shaft, racks arranged in vertical guides andengaging said pinions, and friction-boxes mounted upon the extremitiesof the shaft and moving in channels in said vertical guides,substantially as described.

2. In a window-curtain fixture, the combination with anautomatically-actuated curtain roller, of an extensibleshaft lying insupports upon the lower end of the curtain, pinions mounted'upon theends of the shaft, vertical racks with which said pinions have mesh,friction devices on the ends of the extensible shaft, and guides withwhich thefriction devices engage for holding the curtain at differentpoints of adjustment, substantially as described.

3. In a window-curtain fixture, the combination with an automaticallyactuated curtain-roller of a shaft mounted in supports upon the lowerend of the curtain, pinions fixed upon the projecting ends of saidshaft, racks arranged in channels in vertical guides and engaging thepinions, and friction-boxes lying in separate channels in said guides,said boxes being composed of two parts which are separated byspring-pressure, substantially as described.

4. In a window-curtain fixture,the combination with anautomatically-actuated curtain-roller of a shaft lying in bearingssupported on the lower end of the curtain, pinions mounted on theprojecting ends of said shaft,-racks meshed by said pinions and lying inchannels in vertical guides, friction boxes formed in two parts, thebody parts thereof receiving the ends of the shaft and the other partsbeing adjustably connected to the body parts, and springs interposedbetween the two to separate said parts, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a curtain roller, and a curtain, of guide-ways,racks, a shaft having pinions engaging the racks and arranged at one endportion of the curtain, and friction brakes mounted on the ends of theshaft and engaging the guide-ways for holding the lower end portion ofthe curtain at shaft and engaging the racks, vertical guide- 7 ways, andfriction-brake-boxes forming bearings for the ends of the extensibleshaft and engaging the vertical guide-ways for holding the lower endportion of the curtain at difierent points of adjustment, substantiallyas described.

7. In a window curtain fixture, the combination with an automaticallyactuated curtain roller, and a curtain, of a tube arranged on the lowerend portion of the curtain and having bushingsat its ends, an extensibleshaft extending through the said tube and supported by the bushings atthe ends thereof, pinions fixed upon the extensible shaft, and verticalracks with which said pinions engage, substantially as described.

8. In a window curtain fixture, the combination with an automaticallyactuated curtain roller, and'a curtain, of a tube arranged at the lowerend portion of the curtain and having bushings in its ends, anextensible shaft extending through the said tube and supported by thebushings in the ends thereof, pinions fixed upon the extensible shaft,vertical racks with which said pinions engage, vertical guide-ways, andfriction brakes arranged upon the ends of the extensible shaft andengaging the vertical guide-ways for holding the curtain at differentpoints of adjustment, substantially as described.

9. In a window curtain fixture, the combination with an automaticallyoperated curtain-roller, and a curtain, of a tube arranged at the lowerend portion of the curtain and having bushings in its ends, a telescopicextensible shaft extending through the said tube and supported by thebushings at the ends thereof, a spring acting on the parts of the shaftto extend the same, pinions mounted respectively on the said parts ofthe shaft, and racks with which said pinions-engage, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. HASKELL KING. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NORRIS, G. W. REA.

IIO

